CAREER: Large Scale Electrodynamic Coupling between the Troposphere, Mesosphere and Ionosphere due to Lightning in Weather Systems

要求为宾夕法尼亚州立大学的职业发展计划提供支助，该计划协同结合了大气空气动力学和电动力学以及空间等离子体物理领域的研究和教育活动。PI和他的本科生和研究生将在宾夕法尼亚州立大学开发一个动态研究计划，旨在了解最近在活跃的雷暴系统上方的地球大气中发现的大规模发光现象。拟议的研究项目将回答有关闪电对地球大气层上部区域的大规模能量效应以及相关能量沉积对这些区域的热和化学平衡的影响的关键问题。拟议职业规划的具体教育活动包括为宾夕法尼亚州立大学电气工程、航空航天工程和核工程专业的本科生和研究生开发一个多学科计算机实验实验室，将拟议研究的要素纳入本科教育，包括本科生在暑期积极参与拟议研究活动，以及为本科生和研究生提供积极的指导和培训。

Support is requested for a CAREER development plan at Penn State University which synergistically integrates research and education activities in the area of atmospheric aeronomy and electrodynamics, and space plasma physics. The PI and his undergraduate and graduate students will develop a dynamic research program at Penn State directed on understanding of the recently discovered large scale luminous phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere above active thunderstorm systems. The proposed research project will provide answers to critical questions concerning large scale energetic effects of lighting discharges on the upper regions of the Earth's atmosphere and implications of the associated energy depositions for the thermal and chemical balance of these regions. Specific educational activities of the proposed CAREER plan include development of a multi-disciplinary computer experiment laboratory for undergraduate and graduate students at Penn State majoring in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Nuclear Engineering, incorporation of the elements of proposed research in undergraduate education, including active involvement of undergraduate students in proposed research activities during summer time periods, and providing active mentoring and training for undergraduate and graduate students.